With its 17-10 drubbing of Columbia on Saturday, the men's fencing team remained undefeated and became the nation's new No. 1 team. The win sealed the first perfect men's season in school history and ended Columbia's 51-meet win streak.

The women's foil team finished the year with an impressive 13-2 mark. After silencing Hunter College and Columbia, the Lady Lions suffered their second loss in a tie match with host Temple because of a fewer amount of touches.

The men tuned up with a 27-0 whitewash of Haverford College before facing Columbia - a team that hadn't tasted dual meet defeat since 1985.

"Our guys crushed them," a relieved and delighted Coach Emmanuil Kaidanov said. "Columbia is such a big team and they fenced quite all right, but we were stronger."

While the entire Lion team took part in the Columbia tar and feathering activities, two performances stood out among the rest.

"The whole epee team was outstanding and went undefeated throughout the day," assistant coach Wes Glon said. "Ed Mufel also gave a tremendous individual performance for us, undefeated in foil."

Jim Marsh, Matt Caggiano and Geoff Russell were the leaders of an epee squad that swept the day's competition, 18-0. Columbia's epee fencer John Normile was an alternate for the 1988 Olympic team and entered Saturday's dual meet at 19-1. Last year's individual foil champion, Normile was roughed-up by the Penn State trio and saw his record drop with three losses in three bouts.

"Normile was a goal because I always have trouble with him," Matt Caggiano, a 5-3 victor over Normile, said. "I didn't hold back at all and everything I've been trying to do this season just accumulated for me. It was a great way to end my final year."

By recording a 6-0 record, Marsh became the single-season record holder in Penn State epee history at 34-1. His record broke a 61-year old mark from the 1928 season.

"After some tough times during my first two years it's nice to have it all come together," Marsh said, "but I'm more happy that the (epee) team swept."

Mufel came through again in the clutch with a 6-0 record. Concerned that his attack might be hindered by strained muscles from several weeks ago, Mufel still disposed of some top competition, including Marc Kent, Columbia's foil national champion last year.

John Orvos also contributed some big wins for the foil squad and Brad Cellier won two bouts.

David Cox, along with brother Peter Cox and Jason Krasowitz, led the sabre squad's effort against Columbia's powerful sabre division.

Penn State's huge victory could signal a changing of the guard. The Lions led the match after two rounds, 13-5, and the more their lead increased, the more confidence they gained. After years of Columbia dominance, Penn State proved it not only not invincible, but also quite beatable.

"It's a very pleasant feeling," Kaidanov admitted about the undefeated season, "but it does not give us the Olympics or the NCAAs. They feel good but, I don't want them to become too satisfied, or they won't still be hungry."

The women's foil team handled Hunter College, 15-1, and handed the Columbia women their first defeat of the season, 9-7. The Temple match concluded 8-8, meaning the win would be awarded to the team with the most touches in the 16 bouts. Temple granted the Lady Lions only their second loss of the season by recording three more touches.

"It is the inexperience of our women's team that caused them to lose," Kaidanov said, "but they beat some big schools and had a very successful season."

Katie Kowalski continued her winning ways with a 10-1 weekend record, and Lisa Posthumus fenced to a 7-3 mark. Janet Rossman and Amy Barrett combined for 13 wins.